Rohnert Park, California – The School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today announced that Dr. William Silver, Dean, and Dr. Robert Girling and Dr. Adele Santana, Professors of Business, will present at the annual Sustainable Enterprise Conference happening Wednesday, April 13 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. The day-long event includes multiple sessions taking place in venues throughout SSU’s Student Center. Dean Silver, a Professor of Leadership, will provide the event’s opening remarks with a focus on the pursuit of discovery and the importance of education to a thriving and sustainable economy. Professor Girling, who founded the conference, will also provide introductory remarks, including insight to changes in attitudes toward sustainability since the conference started in 2006.

Professor Adele Santana, an expert on the effects of company culture and industry characteristics on building and executing a sustainability strategy, will help lead two sessions, including “Academic Partnerships: How Can Students Help Solve Real Sustainability Challenges in the Community”; and “Business and Government Efforts to Generate Sustainable Energy.”

“In 2006, this event launched with confidence in widespread support for sustainability. Today, that support is less certain and this conference is more vital than ever. In addition to a triple bottom line of social, environmental, and financial performance, it’s clear now that education is an essential fourth measurement in this framework,” Dean William S. Silver said. “California is the world’s sixth largest economy and a global leader in green policies. We’re proud to be the educational catalyst fora thriving North Bay economy, and will continue to prioritize innovation and entrepreneurship in sustainability.”

Dr. Adele Santana recently introduced “Leading Sustainable Enterprises,” a master’s level course that resulted in sustainability projects at Kaiser Permanente, Sonoma County Library, and other regional organizations. Professor Santana’s research is featured in Business and Society Review, Ethics and Information Technology, and the Journal of Business Ethics, among other publications. She recently published the chapter, "Exit Strategies" in the book, Ending the Fossil Fuel Era. Additional recent faculty research and publications at the intersection of business and sustainability include The Good Company, by Dr. Robert Girling, and Crafting Sustainable Wine Businesses, by Korbel Professor, Dr. Armand Gilinsky. Dr. Merlin Hanauer, Professor of Economics, recently published two articles in the prestigiousRoyal Society Journal, examining and measuring the impact of conservation initiatives on societies and the natural environment.